Amman, Jan. 21 (Petra) – The Senate’s Agriculture and Water Committee, chaired by Senator Akef Zu’bi, met Wednesday with Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khraisat to discuss the current status of forestry and encroachments on forested areas.

Zu’bi said the meeting addressed the condition of forest resources, the challenges they face, and key projects and plans aimed at their protection. He added that the discussions also focused on strengthening partnership and coordination on shared issues within the agricultural sector.

Khraisat outlined the Ministry of Agriculture’s main plans and projects to protect forest resources, stressing that efforts are ongoing to curb encroachments on forest lands. He said the ministry continues to coordinate with relevant authorities on afforestation plans in various regions to meet targeted objectives.

Committee members put forward a number of recommendations, including increasing the number of forest patrols, rehabilitating and equipping observation towers with cameras, maintaining cooperation with the Royal Air Force in combating forest fires, and utilizing drones in forest monitoring operations. They also called for closer monitoring of firewood sales sites to verify sourcing, expanding media outreach related to forest protection, and regulating the import of electric chainsaws by limiting them to specialized companies and entities with demonstrated need, in line with previously adopted measures.

//Petra// AJ
21/01/2026 16:19:58